Printing press washing device



y 7 1 0- J. L. SEEL 5T AL 2,199,469

PRINTING PRESS WASHING DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 7, 1940- J. L. SEEL ET AL I ,199,469

PRINTING PRESS WASHING DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1938 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 7, 1940 7 2,199,469 7 PRINTING PRESS WASHING DEVICE Jack L. ,Scel and Carl M. Mueller, .St. Paul, Minn, assignors to Brown & Bigelow, St. Pau1,"Minn., a corporation of -Minnesota Application September 29, 1938, Serial N0. 232,317

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to an improvement in printing press washing device wherein it is desired to provide a detachable device for use in catching liquid usedto wash the various rollers 5- of a printing press. In washing printing presses of various types, it has been usual practice to wipe with suitable ink solvent, the various rollers to prevent the ink from hardening on the rollers and injuring the surface of the same.

This has been done in numerous ways, sometimes by removing the rollers and washing each roller separately, and it has sometimes been done by running ink solvent throughthe machine to clean all of the rollers.

151 use of ink solvent passing through the. entire press requires considerable amount of solvent which flows easily and which drips from the various rollers if the press is'stopped. Accordingly, it is dimcult to clean thepress in this 2Q manner as the ink solvent drops from the lower rollers and is extremely dimcult to collect.

It is a purpose of .the present invention to provides. blade device which engages the surface of one of the lowermost rollers of the press to 25 catch the bulk of the solvent or liquid used in the washingprocess. Thus the major portion of the liquid used is caught and retained and the press may be washed without danger of having the liquid drop or run beneath the machine on 30- the various operating mechanism positioned beneath the machine as the press is cleaned.

It is a purpose of our invention to provide a moisture or liquid collecting device having a blade to engage the surface of a roller at an ad- 35; justable angle. This device comprises a trough which is supported pivotally from a point substantially spaced from the trough and includes a means for adjusting the angle at which the blade engages the surface of the cylinder.

40, It is a further feature of our invention to provide a liquid collecting device which collects liquid from the surface of a cylinder and delivers the same into a trough from where-it may be drained at suitable intervals into any desired 45;. receptacle during the movement of the press. Thus the washing process may continue and may be completely accomplished in a continuous operation of pouring ink solvent or suitable washing liquid onto the top rollers and 50 collecting the same after it is passed over various of the rollers and has collected a considerable amount of ink.

. It is a feature of our invention that the use of our liquid catching device enables. the rollers of a press to be washed and cleaned without Obviously, however, the

(01. 101-425) g I I p v removing the same from the press and also permits the main distributor rollers, one of which is ordinarily centrally positioned among a series of distributing rollers; to be cleaned without removing all of the various rollers of the device.

It is'a further feature of our invention to provide aroller cleaning device which may be easily and quickly attached and detached from a press; Accordingly, with this construction the press may be used in the usual manner andthe 1o attachment is in no means in the way to cause improper operation of the press. On the other hand, however, it may be attached; to the press in a few seconds time andmay therefore oper-- ate to clean-the press immediately after the-desired run has been made. This is of importance for it permitsthe press to-be cleaned immediately, thereby preventing the ink from hardening on the rollers. While the ink is still fresh,

it is most easily removed from the various rollers, and with our attachment, it is readily accomplished.

A further advantage of this last mentioned feature lies in the fact thatlittle time is re-,

quired to change the ink on the presswhen it is desired to print with ink of a different color. When a job is being run on the-press in one color, the press may be quicklycleaned, at the end of the run and ink of a. different color applied in a minimum of time. This fact naturally f results in a saving of labor time and also permits the press to be in use a maximum of time.

These and other objects and novel features of our inventionwill be more clearly and. fully.

set forth in the following specification and 35.

claims.- v

In the drawings forming a part of our specification: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through a printing press illustrating our cleaning device applied to one of the rollers thereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of our attachrnent illustrating some of the portions of the press to which the attachment is attached.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional viewthrough a 4.5

' Figure 4. is a cross-sectional view through'a portion of our attachment, the sectionbeingindicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the attachment position when the-blade is worn or when the blade is in retracted position.

Figure 6 is a detailed view of an end of the blade.

Figure '7 is across-sectional view through a portion of our attachment the section being indicatedby the line 1-! of Figure 2.

'Figure 8 is a detailed view of a modified form of mounting construction.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of the modified form of mounting illustrated in Figure 8, the section being indicated by the line 9--9 of Figure 8.

My attachment A is designed for attachment to a printing press as indicated at B. While the particular type of printing press to which the attachment may be applied is not a part of the present invention, one type of press to which the attachment may be secured is illustrated.

The press B includes a pair of vibrating distributor rollers l which are preferably provided with a metallic shell-and against which the blade of the attachment A may engage. The press B includes an ink fount provided with an ink fount roller l2 which delivers ink from the fount to the doctor roller l3. The doctor roller |3 reciprocates between the ink fount roller l2 and a distributing roller I4. In the rotation of the rollers l3 and I4, ink is transmitted from the doctor roller to the distributing roller l4.

The roller l4 in turn spreads ink upon the surface of a distributing roller |5 which also engages the surface of a vibrating main distributing roller l6. The film of ink on the distributing roller I6 is spread evenly by a series of distributing rollers l1, l9, and 20. The smaller vibrating distributing rollers 2| are positioned in engagement with the rollers l5 and I1 respectively and the rollers l9 and 29. The purpose of these various distributing rollers is to distribute ink evenly upon. the distributing rollers l1 and 26 which spread an even film of ink upon the vibrating distributor rollers I0. These'vibrating distributing rollers l0 transfer ink to a series of form rollers 22 which are maintained in engagement with the printing plate cylinder 23 which carries the form from which the sheets are printed.

In order that as much of the system of rollers be cleaned as is possible, my attachment A is used in conjunction with the vibrating distributor rollers III which are the last set of rollers having a hard surface which the ink contacts on its way to the plate cylinder 23. It is obviously difiicult to apply any scraping means to a roller not having a hard surface and accordingly, it is preferable to apply the same to a roller such as Ill. The plate cylinder 23 is equipped with a plate which is usually removed at the end of a run or which is cleaned by means of suitable ink solvent at the end of the run, and in some cases the plate cylinder is movable with respect to the form rollers or the form rollers are removable in order that they remain ordinarily out of contact with the plate cylinder to: facilitate the operation of applying or disengaging the plate.

' The attachment A comprises a trough 24 of any suitable cross-section and in the form shown is illustrated as having a pair of base walls 25 and 26 connected along one edge as illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings. At the ends of the trough formed by the members 25 and 25, we provide retaining walls or ends 21 which retain theliquid within the trough. Secured to the side 26 0f the trough 24 we provide a blade 29 which is clamped against the side 26 by means of a clamping bar 30. Bolts or other attaching means 3| extend through the clamping bar 30 and through the blade 29 and are threaded into the member 23 enabling the clamping bar 30 to clamp the blade in position. To permit adjustment of the blade if desired, We may provide in the blade 29 a series of spaced slots 32 through which the bolts 3| may extend. The slots permit the blade to be adjusted with respect to the side 26 of the trough 24 to vary the amount of which the blade 29 projects from the edge of the trough. In order to enable the trough to be drained at intervals without removing the trough from its supported position upon the press, we provide a drain cook 33 which may be operated to permit the liquid to flow into a suitable container or to be transferred to a suitable waste receptacle. e

The trough is provided with one or more arms 34 which are secured to one side 25 of the trough 24 and which extend upwardly above the top of the trough. A J-shaped bolt 35 extends through the end of the bar 34 and is designed to engage a suitable bracket 36 formed on the body of the press B. A nut 31 is provided on the J-bolt 35 to permit the adjustment of the angularity of the trough 24.

A short shaft 39 is partly cut away at one end and is secured to the member 25 of the trough 24 by bolts 40 or other suitable attaching means. Sleeves 4| encircle each shaft 39, each sleeve bein provided with a restricted portion 42 which sets closely about the shaft 39 and an enlarged portion 43 which is of considerably larger internal diameter than the shaft 39. These sleeves 4| are slidable on the shafts 39 and will slide over the pins 44 extending through the shafts 39 for the purpose of retaining the sleeves 43 in place and will also enclose a portion of a supporting socket 45. The supporting socket 45 is substantially cylindrical in shape and is provided with a groove of proper size to accommodate the end of one of the shafts 39.

The sockets 45 are mounted upon one face of a segment 46 pivoted on a cross tie rod 41. This tie rod 47 extends between opposite sides of the frame 49 of the press B and remains permanently a part of the press. permanent part of the press with the sockets 45 mounted thereupon. An arcuated slot 50 extends through each segment 46, each slot 5|] having as its center of curvature the center of the cross tie rod 41. A bolt 5| extends through each slot 56 and is threaded into the frame 49 of the press. By loosening the bolt 5|, each segment 46 may be angularly adjusted about the axis of the cross tie rod 41.

As is believed obvious from the foregoing description, the attachment A is usually detached from the press B and is therefore not in the way of an operator of the press. When the run of the press has been completed, and it is desired to clean the press, the attachment A is lifted up until the J-shaped bolt 35 engages the bracket or hand bar 36, and simultaneously the ends of both of the rods 39 are dropped into the sockets 45 on the segments 46. When in this position the sleeves 4| are moved longitudinally upon the shafts 39 toward the adjacent segments 46. The enlarged portions 43 of these sleeves 4| slide over the pins 44 and over the ends of the sockets 45. When the sleeves 4| are in this position, it will be seen that the attachment A cannot be raised or lowered with respect to the sockets 45,

The segments 46 also form a but must remain in axial alignment with these rods 39. Liquid may then be placed on the uppermost rollers of the press and the rotation of the press will cause the ink on the rollers to dissolve into the solvent on the travel of the liquid tothe vibrating distributor rollers is. When the ink and solvent therefore are deposited on the surface of the roller ID, the direction of rotation of these rollers is such that the liquid will be scraped up off the surface of these rollers by means of the blade 29 projecting from the edge 2% of the trough 24'.

From time to time this liquid may be drawn off if it is desired. As the blade 29 wears down the position of each segment li"; with respect to the frame 23 of the press B is changed by loosening the bolt 5| and pivoting the segment 45 about the center of the shaft ll. As the blade 29 wears down, the segment 45 will be adjusted from the position illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings toward and perhaps beyond the position illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

In Figures 3 and 9 of the drawings, a slightly modified form of mounting construction is employed. In this form of cleaning device C, an arm 52 having a yoke end 53 is pivotally mounted upon the cross tie rod 54. The yoke end 53 is normally closed by means of a finger 55 which is pivoted at 56 to the arm 52 and which is provided With a handle 57 by means of which it may be pivoted.

Under normal conditions, the finger 55 is supported in the position illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings. In this position it will be seen that the shaft 89 attached to each end of the trough 24' is retained within the yoke or bifurcated end 53 of the arm 52. When it is desired to remove the trough 24', it is only necessary to engage the handle 5! and to pivot the finger 55 into some other position to enable the shafts 39' to be disengaged.

In accordance with the patent statutes, we have described the principles of contruction and operation of our improvement in press washing device, and while we have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, we desire to have it understood that this is only illustrative of a means of carrying out .our invention, and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

disposed brackets pivotally secured to opposite sides of said frame, means for pivotally and detachably securing said receptacle and blade between said brackets, an arm secured to said liquid receptacle and means for adjustably securing said arm to said press at a point remote from said liquid container.

2. A cleaning attachment for printing presses comprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates pivotally secured to opposite sides of a press, means securing said plates in desired angular adjustment, troughs projecting in alignment from said plates, a scraper blade, a receptacle secured thereto, a pair of aligned stub shafts on opposite ends of said receptacle engageable in said troughs, and means secured to said receptacle pivotally engaging said press at a point remote from said plates.

3. A cleaning attachment for printing presses comprising a scraper blade, a receptacle for liquid adjacent said blade, aligned pivots at opposite ends of said receptacle, aligned troughsin which said pivots are mounted, plates supporting said troughs, means pivotally securing said plates to opposite sides of said press, means securing said plates in adjusted angular position upon the press,

parallel pivots on said press remote from said plates, and means secured to said trough pivotally secured to said pivots.

- 4. A cleaning attachment for printing presses,

including a scraper blade, a receptacle to catch moisture secured to said blade, aligned pivots on said receptacle at opposite ends thereof, aligned troughs designed to receive said aligned pivots, means securing said troughs to opposite sides of the press, collars slidable on said shafts engageable around said troughs to hold said pivots in place, and means pivotally securing said receptacle to said press at a point remote from said troughs. JACK L. SEEL. CARL M. MUELLER. 

